Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-03-21

mines, vineyards, dairies and manufac-
tories this county has room for 5OO,OOO
inhabitants. Here the largest tree In
the world, the Sequoia gigantea, named
General Grant, is growing and has
been for thou sands of years. Here the
loftiest mountains in North America are
found clothed in eternal ice. Here the
most stupendous systems of irrigation in
the world. rivaling those of India on the
same area, are already constructed.
Around the city of Fresno are 67,Si0
acres Of land commanded and made pro-
ductive by great irrigating canals. These
great channels were constructed by AIR.
Z. A. Manning. of Hanford, California,
varying in size according to circunl-
stances. the largest being 100 feet wide.
The aggregate length of these trunk
canals from King 3 river is 900 miles, and
cost over $2.OOO,00O. A new canal to
cost over S50O,0 600 will soon be built on
the south side of the San Joaquin, that
will be used for floating lumber aud light
draught boats, and will be about seventy.
five miles long. When this canal is
completed about million acres Of land
can be irrigated in this oueenly county.
SYSTEM OF IRRIGATION.
The system introduced into this
country by Mr.. Manning does not in.
clude surface flooding, but canal is
made on the upper side of each l60
acres, and filled with water, which per-
colates the deer, rich sandy 10 IN be.
meath the surface and constitutes CO.
pious sub-irrigation, preventing vast
amount of labor in the ordinary system
in use in Los Angeles and many other
counties. The system works admirably,
and has completely revolutionized grain
and fruit-culture. Land that sold at
81. 25 to 81. so an acre, before the water
was introduced, advanced to $50 per
acre almost at slbound, in 1870.
A notable fea ture of the result of this
percolation through the deep soil is the
constant rise OF the level of the subter-
rancan water in the valley. When
Fresno City was first settled the water
obtained by surface wells came from
depth of seventy feet. The water in
those wells is now but ten feet from the
surface, and is slowly Asing from the
constant flow of 6,OOO.0 900 cubic inches
Of water per minute into the soil, in
suring the most remarkable crops OF
grain, alfalfa, and all manner of fruits.
When the water gets too near the sur
face it will be turned back into the river
for year or two, and turned iuto the
soil again when needed.
COLONIES OF FRESNO COUNTY.
Just north of the city is the Fresno
Colony of 2540 acres, with fine school
house and small fruit farms. Central
Colony near by contains 3S40 acres, and
is very prosperous settlement OF fruit
growers. 1t has church and large
graded public school. Washington Col.
ony, few miles out. has tr ,ct OF 1000
acres devoted to fruit growing. 1t mas
two fine public schools and handsome
Presbyterian Church. The new settle.
ment Of West Park has 6400 acres, half
under cultivation. and is supplied with
two public shools. The Kirby Colony
has $500 acres in fine cultivation and
contains the great vineyard and winery
OF T. c. KIRBY. Malaga Colony is
noted for its production Of raisins. 1t
has large fruit. packing house, rail.
way depot, hotel and shool house, and
an area of 440O acres.
OuAABot uoSUs JuoV hoAtH VI VIC SA'yS
is a young settlement of 1880 acres.
The Scandinavian Colony is very -four.
ishing settlement of 1920 acres.
The Nevada and The Temperance Colo.
mes cless the list of colonies that cluster
around Fresno City. When they are all
combined in one city it will be an enor.
nous settlement.
POPULATION.
The present population of the county
is about 2l, COO, and is increasing at the
rate of one hundred per week from i'm.
migration. The custom OF settlers IL to
purchase twenty acres of land, with
water right, on which there is only
sixty.fve cents annual tax for keeping
aanals in order. There are thus offered
facilities for vast population by only
estimating five persons to each twenty
acres of land.
In ten years time the center of popu.
lation of the State will be on a line
through Fresno county. A notice of
other Fresno towns will appear later.